Fluid heater



June 4, 1957 c. LOWERY 2,794,426

FLUID HEATER Fil ed Dec. 7, 1953 FIG. 6 ATTORNEY United States The invention relates to the art of crude oil and salt water separators, and more particularly to a fluid heater therefor.

In the production of crude oil from a stratum containing salt water, particles of water become suspended within a film of crude oil forming an emulsion. This emulsion must be broken up to separate the water from the oil so that oil may be processed in the usual manner. The best way to accomplish this end is by thermal agitation of the molecules of the emulsion which causes the water, being heavier than the oil, to settle to the bottom of a tank and be drawn off as waste. It has been found that a temperature of 120 F. to 175 F. can be used to successfully separate the oil and Water without damage to the oil by lowering its specific gravity. The heavier and more emulsified oils take the higher temperature range to break down the emulsion. A number of devices for heating the emulsified crude oil have been developed and are in use. The primary objection of these devices is that the flame of the gas being burned which supplies the heat, is separated from the emulsion by only one wall of metal which results in a hot spot in the heater that burns the oil causing a sharp loss in the specific gravity of the oil. This hot spot also causes a condensation of salt to accumulate on the metal surrounding the fire and results in a loss of the heat needed to agitate the oil.

The present invention is designed to overcome the above named defects by providing a tubular horizontal heater that directs the heat of the burned gases downwardly and through a second firebox to spread out the heat and eliminate any hot spots before the waste fumes are directed out the vent.

Another object is to provide a heater that may be used in its own surrounding wash tank or placed within any conventional wash tank.

Another object is to provide a heater that is simple to operate and may be comparatively cheap to manufacture.

The present invention accomplishes these and other objects by providing a horizontally disposed cylindrical wash-tank having abrupt closed ends and having a lower inlet port and an upper outlet port. A tubate member is concentrically disposed within the wash-tank in spaced relation with the wall of the tank and is rigidly connected to each closed end, respectively, thus forming a fluid chamber between the wall of the tank and the wall of the member. A spent gas vent is rigidly connected to one closed end around a central opening provided in the closed end. The closed end opposite the vent-connected end is provided with a circular opening substantially larger than the opening for the vent for receiving an inner tubate firebox rigidly connected to an outer firebox in concentric relation. The inwardly disposed end of the inner firebox is closely received and supported by the bore of the vent.

Patented June 4, 1957 ice ' gases leave the outer firebox through lower openings and Openings are provided in the lowermost wall of each firebox in staggered relation providing a meandering downward path for the spent gases which are exhausted through the vent by entering an opening in the lower portion of the inner firebox adjacent the vent and sepafill the chamber formed between the fireboxes and the tubate member to heat the fluid contents of the tank.

Yet another object is to provide a device that will utilize the maximum of the heat generated by the burning of gases therein.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying single sheet of drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a vertical cross-sectional view of the device;

Figure 2 is a front or left end view of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a rear or right end view of Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken sub stantially along line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Figure 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the device installed in a vertical tank; and,

Figure 7 is a bottom view of an alternate part of the device taken substantially along the line 77 of Fig. 6.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in those figures of the drawings in which they occur.

In the drawings:

Reference numeral l indicates, as a whole, a horizontal cylindrical metal crude oil wash-tank having a Wall 2, a closed front end 3 perpendicular to the wall 2, and a closed rear end 4 perpendicular to the wall 2, forming a hollow interior 5. The front end 3 and the rear end 4 are extended downwardly to provide a pair of front and rear supporting legs 6 and 7, respectively. A horizontal inlet 8 is provided in the rear wall 4 adjacent its lowermost edge for connection with a crude oil supply line, not shown, and communicating with the interior 5. A vertically disposed outlet 9 is provided on the topmost side of the wall 2 adjacent the end 3, communicating with the interior 5 for connection with a crude oil carrying line, not shown. i

A horizontal tubate member 20 is concentrically disposed in a spaced relation to the wall 2 of the wash-tank 1 with each end rigidly connected, as by welding, to the inner side of the ends 3 and 4, respectively. A centrally located perforation is placed through the rear end 4 and a tubate vent 21 is rigidly attached, as by welding, to the outer side of and perpendicular to the rear end 4 adjacent the circumference of the perforation. The free end 22 of the tubate vent 21, is turned abruptly upwards parallel with the rear end 4 to a desired height to disperse gas fumes. The front end 3 has a concentrically disposed annular opening 23, with its diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the wall 20, forming an annular flange 28.

An open ended inner tubate firebox 24, with a periphery slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the horizontal portion 21 of the vent, has its front end 25 concentrically disposed within and extending slightly forward of the opening 23 and the periphery of the rear end 26 closely received by the inner side of the vent wall 21. A vertical sheet metal partition wall 27 is placed within the inner firebox 24 at a selected point spaced from the rear end 26. An outer tubate firebox 30, having a periphery substantially smaller than the periphery of the opening 23, is disposed in a spaced concentric relation around the inner firebox 24. The rear end of the outer firebox 30 has a wall 31 perpendicular to its longitudinal axis contiguously surrounding and rigidly connected, as by welding, to the periphery of the inner firebox 24 adjacent the point the partition wall 27 is located. The wall 31 has a portion extended downward to form a leg 32, as seen -in'Fig. 5, contacting the inner side of the wall 2fi2a'nd. aids in supporting the 'fireboxes '24 and '30. 'The forward end :33 of the :outer. firebox 30, is per'pendicular tot-its longitudinal axis and extends forwardequidistantawith -the front end 3. The lowermost wall of the innerfirebox .24 has. a plurality of through slots or openings '34,. graduated insize, the smallerbeing. near the. front end 25 of the inner firebox'24-and thelarger near the. forwardside :of the'partitioni27. A similar opening35, substantially equal in area to thecornbined area of the openings 34, is placedin the lower'wall of' the firebox 24 betweenthe rear sideiof'the partition 27 andthei end 26,in communication with the interior of the Vent 21. A: plurality of similar slots or openings :36 are placed'in'the lowermost wall of the outer firebox'30 in mis-alignment with'the openings'34, with the smaller beingnearithe rear wall 31 and .the largest near the forward end 33.

An annularsheet metal cover-40,1 with a centralperforation large enough to closelyreceivei the periphery of the forward end 25 of the inner firebox 24, andhaving a periphery slightly larger than the circumference of the opening 23 and a plurality of radially spaced stud-bolts 41 adjacent its periphery co-operating with alike plurality of threaded perforations. in the flange28, holds the cover 40 in place and closes the opening 23. The. purpose of the cover 40 is to enable the fireboxes 24 and 30. to berernoved for inspection and repair and to serve. as an inspection plate for the fireboxes. A similar annular firebox inspection plate 42 is placed'on the rear. end 4 adjacent the lower side of the vent 21, contiguously. surrounding an opening 43, and isiheld in place by a plurality of radially spaced stud-bolts 44, adjacent the periphery of the plate 42, within a like plurality of threaded co-operating perforations in the end 4. The inspection plates '40'and 42 may be removed and a compressedair hose used to blow out any accumulation ofdirt, soot, rust or scale, or the like,'to keep the fireboxes clean.

Referring to Fig. 6, reference numeral. 50 indicates a conventional cylindrical upright wash-tank, having a bottom 51 perpendicular to its wall, in which the present invention has been installed, in a similar manner as described 'hereinabove. At a selected point under the cover ,40 and adjacent the bottom51,;is connected a crude oil supply line 52 to communicate with the interior53 of the tank 50, through a perforation54. 9A horizontaltubate spreader member 55 has one.endrigidly attached, as by welding, to the circumference of the perforation 54, communican'ng with the line 52and the oppositeendattached to the opposite side ofthe tank50. The spreader member SS'is longitudinally disposed in parallelrelation to the fireboxes 24 and 30 and in a :spacedrelation' to thebottom 51. The lowermost .side. of. thespreader 55 has a through slotted substantially diamond shaped area 56, as seen in Fig. 7, to permit'the crude'oilito flow downwardly toward the bottom 51,;as'sh'oWn by arrows in Fig. 6, with the bulk of the fiowbeing ithrough the :Wider part of the diamondshaped area :56, centrally located adjacent the bottom 51 in the interiorv portion 53. This spreader is intended to keep the heavier oils from settling near the bottom of the conventional tank and building up a-sediment that must .be periodically manually removed. a

. Operation A gassupply line 57-with proper air mixing chamber, not shown, is placed and the, gas ignited within'the front end 25 of the firebox 24 as the crude oil. is startedqcirculating through the. wash-tank, asshown by the arrows inFigs. 1 and 6. The heat of. the fire: and gasJfumes passes downwardly through theslots or openings 34; and upwardly around theperiphery of the innerfirebox 24 andidownwardly through the openings :36,'heating the inner side of the tubate members walls 20 and rearwardly and out upwardly through the opening 35 communicating with the vent 21. This downdraft circulation of the heat more evenly heats the walls of the tubate member 20, and more efiiciently breaks up the emulsified oil. The amount of heat required is regulated by a conventional thermostat, not shown, connected in the usual manner to the interior 5 and the gas line 57.

Obviously the invention is susceptible to some change or alteration without defeating its practicability, and I therefore do not wish to be confined to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings and described herein, further than I am limited by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A fluid heater, including: a hollow horizontally disposed cylindrical wash-tank having closed ends, said closedends having central openings therethrough, said tank having an inlet port and an outletport; a-rigidly connected tnbate member concentrically disposed within .said tank in spaced relation-with the wallthereof. forming a fiuid chamber therebetwe en; avent rigidly'connected axially toone'said closed end in communication with one said opening; an open ended tnbate inner fire- ,box horizontally disposed within said tnbate member and having one end disposed withinsaid vent, the end of said inner-firebox opposite the first'said end projecting outwardly from the end of said tank; a rigid portion in said inner'firebox inspaced-apartrelation from said one end in-said vent, said inner firebox having aplurality of spaced-apart openings in its lowermost wall betweensaid partition and said outwardly disposed end and having .at least-one opening in its lowermost wall'between'said partition and said end in said vent; an outer ,tubate firebox surrounding said inner fireboxin spaced-apart relation and having one closed end rigidly connected to the periphery of said'innerfirebox adjacent said partition, said .outer firebox having a plurality of openings in-its lowermost wall in staggered relation with the openings in said inner firebox; an annular flangerigidlyconnected to the periphery ofsaid inner-firebox and to-the end of: said outer firebox adjacent their endsopposite said vent; and radially spaced-apart stud-bolts rigidly connecting said flange to the adjacent closed end of said iIZIIIK-fOITCOIlcentrically holding said vfireboxeswithin said member.

2. A fluid heater, including: a hollow-horizontally disposed cylindrical wash-tank having closed ends, said .closed ends each having a centralopening therethrough,

said tank having a lower inlet port-and an; upper outlet' port; a. tubate member; concentrically disposed within said tank in spaced relation with the same, said member rigidly connected at each end to said closed ends,-respectively, forming a fluid passage chamber-between said tank and said. member; an upwardlyprojecting gas --vent having a-horizontal lower end portion rigidly connected :axially to onesaid closed end around the opening therein; an-open ended tnbate inner firebox axially disposed within said member and having one end portionremovably .disposed vw'thin saidvent, the end of said inner firebox opposite said vent projecting outwardly beyond the adjacent closed end of said tank; a rigid partition in said inner firebox in spaced-apart relation-from said one end in saidvent, said inner firebox having -aplurality of downwardly disposed openings in its wall, at least .oneof said openings disposed between-said partition and said one. end in said vent; an outer tnbate firebox surrounding said inner firebox in spaced apartrelation and=having one abrupt closed end rigidly connected to the periphery of said inner, firebox adjacent said partition, said outer firebox having. a plurality .of downwardly disposed openings in its'w'all'in. staggered relation with the openingsin said inner firebox; anrannular flange rigidly connected to the periphery of said inner firebox'and to the end of said outer 'firebox adjacenttheends ofsaid 'fireboxes' opposite said -ve nt; and radiallyspaced. apart stud-bolts removably connecting said flange to the adjacent closed end of said tank for concentrically holding said fireboxes within said memher.

3. A fluid heater, including: a hollow horizontally disposed wash-tank having closed ends, said closed ends each having a central opening therethrough, said tank having a lower inlet port and an upper outlet port in staggered relation; a tubate member centrally disposed within said tank in spaced relation with the walls thereof and rigidly connected at each end to said closed ends, respectively, forming a fluid chamber between said tank and said member; an upwardly projecting spent gas vent having a horizontal lower end portion rigidly connected axially to one said closed end around the opening therein; an open ended tubate inner firebox axially disposed within said member and having one end portion removably received by the bore of the horizontal portion of said vent, the end of said inner firebox opposite said vent projecting outwardly beyond the adjacent closed end of said tank, said inner firebox having a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart downwardly disposed graduated openings in its wall; a partition vertically disposed within said inner firebox between two of said openings adjacent said vent end; an outer tubate firebox surrounding said inner firebox in spaced-apart relation with said inner firebox and said member forming a spent gas chamber around said fireboxes within said member, said outer firebox having an abrupt inwardly disposed end rigidly connected to the periphery of said inner firebox adjacent said partition, said outer firebox having a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart downwardly disposed graduated openings in staggered relation with the openings in said inner firebox forming a downwardly and upwardly meandering path for spent gases; an annular flange rigidly connected to the periphery of said inner firebox adjacent its outwardly projecting end, said flange rigidly connected to the adjacent end of said outer firebox, said flange substantially equal diametrically with relation to said member; and radially spaced stud-bolts removably connecting said flange to the adjacent closed end of said tank for concentrically holding said fireboxes within said member, thereby permitting the removal of said fireboxes from said member.

4. A fluid heater, including: a hollow horizontally disposed cylindrical wash-tank having closed ends, said closed ends each having a central opening theretbrough, said tank having a lower inlet port at one end and an upper outlet port adjacent the end opposite the first said end; a tubate member concentrically disposed within said tank in spaced relation with the walls thereof and rigidly connected at each end to said closed ends, respectively, forming a fluid chamber between the walls of said tank and said member; an upwardly projecting tub ate vent having a horizontally disposed lower end portion rigidly connected axially to one said closed end around the opening therein; an open ended tubate inner firebox axially disposed within said tank and having a length slightly greater than the length of said tank and having one end portion removably received by the bore of the horizontal portion of said vent, said inner firebox having a plurality of downwardly disposed graduated openings in its wall; a partition wall vertically disposed within said inner firebox between two of said openings adjacent said vent end; an outer tubate firebox surrounding said inner firebox in spaced-apart relation between said inner firebox and said member forming a spent gas chamher around said fireboxes within said member, said outer firebox having an abrupt inwardly disposed end rigidly connected to the periphery of said inner firebox in vertical alignment with said partition wall, said outer firebox having a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart downwardly disposed graduated openings in staggered relation with the openings in said inner firebox, thereby providing a downwardly and upwardly meandering path for spent gases; an annular flange rigidly connected to the periphery of said inner firebox adjacent its free end, said flange rigidly con nected adjacent its periphery to the free end of said outer firebox; and radially spaced stud-bolts removably connecting said flange to the adjacent closed end of said tank for concentrically holding said fireboxes within said memher and thereby permitting the removal of said fireboxes from said member for cleaning.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 159,103 Latta Jan. 26, 1875 163,735 Busch May 25, 1875 1,383,530 Cotton July 5, 1921 1,414,751 Rumery et a1 May 2, 1922 1,734,310 Taylor Nov. 5, 1929 2,040,959 Schumann May 19, 1936 2,179,131 Millard Nov. 7, 1939 2,452,472 Keating Oct. 26, 1948 2,593,366 Kohn Apr. 22, 1952 2,625,915 Glasgow et a1 Jan. 20, 1953 2,658,025 Williams Nov. 3, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 256,366 Great Britain Aug. 12, 1926 

